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Travel

Rating the casino resorts

The first resorts to reopen along the Gulf Coast, in varying stages of renovation, differ distinctly.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published November 26, 2006

	Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport is an inexpensive but comfortable option.
[Island View Casino Resort]

ADVERTISEMENT Visitors arrive at the grand reopening of the Beau Rivage in August. The renovation is expected to be complete next month. [Getty Images] [AP photo] Isle of Capri Casino Resort in Biloxi may not be as fancy as Beau Rivage, but it has affable employees and memorable dining.

A recent visit to Mississippi's Gulf Coast included stays at three casino resorts in three days: the posh Beau Rivage, the Isle of Capri's midrange value and Island View's practicality. Each has been back in business for only a short time.

They're the first wave of Biloxi's and Gulfport's beachfront rebound, beckoning tourists to return. We did, and learned that reports of Gulf Coast gaming's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Nobody can eat nine buffets over three days, so we focused on breakfast feast comparisons and restaurant dinners when available. Here's a summary of what these renovated casino resorts are initially offering, with more under construction.

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi

Overall impression: The only differences between "the Beau" and a Las Vegas establishment are two time zones and final touches on three upscale restaurants and a performance theater. Those additions are scheduled to open in December.

Accommodations: Beds are soft, televisions are flat screen and decor is stately Southern in 400 cozy square feet.

Deluxe rooms are $119 weekdays and $159 weekends. Twenty dollars more buys a Gulf of Mexico view. Holiday rates are slightly higher. Rates for larger suites, up to 1,200 square feet, are available through the toll-free reservations number.

Amenities: A pearly white pool area with blue canopied cabanas for rent, a spacious tiki bar and lively socializing.

Spa and fitness facilities cost $15 per day, or free with a spa service valued at $30 or more.

Full-service salon for hair, skin and nails; the most expensive treatment is a 75-minute caviar and pearl facial for $175. The arcade is a good dropoff for kids while adults relax.

The hotel's Fallen Oak golf course opened in November, designed by award-winning course architect Tom Fazio. His par-72, 7,487-yard challenge is 20 minutes from Beau Rivage, with frequent shuttles. Greens fees vary.

Dining: Until Olives, Jia and BR Prime start cooking in December, guests don't have many alternatives to hearty American cuisine. The breakfast buffet $17.95 for Sunday champagne brunch can hold you all day with freshly made, customized omelets, Cajun and comfort food favorites, plus an abundance of salads and sweets.

A full rack of baby back ribs ($20) at Memphis Q were overcooked to near-jerky, but tangy sauce and a winning waiter pulled it through. A dinner companion's thick, succulent pork chop ($19) left me jealous. Traditional fare on the menus of Terrace Cafe and Coast went unexplored. One day, one stomach.

Gaming: Beau Rivage has more than 2,100 slot machines, 93 table games, 38 video poker games and a smoke-free poker room in an 85,000-square-foot casino. That's slightly smaller than Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, but it is Vegas-style action, not bingo in disguise. Dealers and servers are helpful, tolerant of mistakes and friendly.

Entertainment: Country singer LeAnn Rimes shook up the Magnolia Ballroom during our stay, sounding swell despite so-so acoustics in the temporary theater. Shows will benefit from December's scheduled debut of Beau Rivage Theatre, a 1,550-seat venue designed for concerts, stage shows and revues.

Upcoming headliners include Olivia Newton-John (Dec. 8), New Year's Eve with Little Richard, Bryan Adams (Jan. 5) and Mr. Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, on Feb. 2. Tickets can be reserved by calling toll-free 1-888-566-7469.

Good to know: AirTran Airways teams with Beau Rivage for two-, three- and four-night package deals, with daily nonstop flights from Tampa International Airport. Packages include deluxe accommodations, round-trip air and ground transportation, and one complimentary meal per person (up to three guests) daily. One-night prices begin at $238. Call toll-free 1-800-261-9548 for reservations.

Reservations and information: Toll-free 1-800-567-6667 or www.beaurivage.com.

Isle of Capri Casino Resort, 151 Beach Blvd., Biloxi

Overall impression: Currently it's No. 2 on the beach and trying harder. A desk clerk who steered me to a room bargain (see "Good to know") kicked off karma that carried over to the casino and a memorable dinner.

Beau Rivage is bigger and fancier, but Isle of Capri is where I'll stay again. Actually, we checked out of the Beau and returned to Isle of Capri's Lava Bar for the Bucs-Saints game among its circle of 50 plasma TVs with NFL Ticket.

Accommodations: Deluxe rooms are available in December for $79 to $89 a night until New Year's weekend. Spacious suites with whirlpool tubs, multiple televisions and waterfront views begin at $199 weekdays and $229 weekends.

Amenities: The Spa at the Isle is a reasonably priced relaxation stop with a well-stocked fitness room nearby. An otherwise ordinary pool features a split-level design creating a cool 4-foot waterfall effect.

Dining: See accompanying dining story (Page 7L) for delicacies sampled at Bragozzo's Osteria and Wine Bar. Calypso's breakfast buffet featured standard wakeup fare, but it's only $7.99; lunch and dinner offerings looked more appealing. Taste of Farraday's is a casual compromise between Bragozzo's and Calypso's, with an interesting, affordable menu. The Gulf Coast's first Starbucks is coming here in December.

Gaming: Isle of Capri was the first Biloxi casino, opened in 1992, and the first to open onshore after Hurricane Katrina. The convention center was converted to casino space until construction of a waterfront game room is completed. The gaming vibe is comparable to Las Vegas' Fremont Street district, with more than 1,331 slot machines and 31 table games, plus a poker room. Not an intense Friday night atmosphere, but fun.

Entertainment: Only the affable employees and plenty of plasma televisions, even in the casino, where management usually doesn't like anything distracting players from spending money.

Good to know: That whirlpool suite is a steal for IsleOne players club members. The clerk directed me to sign up, and the Friday night room rate dropped nearly half to $119. Membership is available online, and reservations for the discount are recommended.

Reservations and information: Toll-free 1-800-843-4753 or www.isleofcapricasino.com.

Island View Casino Resort, 3300 W Beach Blvd., Gulfport

Overall impression: A decent, inexpensive introduction to Gulf Coast gaming that will be more entertaining when crossroad expansion to the former Grand Casino is completed next spring.

Accommodations: Surprisingly upscale for $89 per night, including the best bed of the trip, feathery yet firm and tough to leave. A flat-screen LCD high-definition TV with DirecTV satellite clarity saved money when luck dried up.

Amenities: None yet. Expansion plans include a spa and fitness center and a sand-beach swimming pool.

Dining: Three spreads daily at Island View Buffet are split among international flavors. Lunch and dinner stations include a wealth of Asian delights, sturdy Italian favorites, generous meat carvings and Southern specialties. Global flavors are missing from the $9.99 breakfast buffet, dishing out the tastiest bacon of the trip.

Gaming: Casino space is almost as vast as Beau Rivage, with 83,000 square feet and more coming. Slot machines number 2,300, along with 50 gaming tables. Not too busy on our Thursday night, but business picks up on weekends.

Entertainment: Nothing special until spring, unless you count game table conversation with locals.

Good to know: Specifically request that your room be away from ongoing construction. Our entire third floor view was the wall of the future convention hall. The good news: Blocked sunlight made that bed even cozier.

Reservations and information: Toll-free 1-877-774-8439 or www.islandviewcasino.com.

Steve Persall can be reached at (727) 893-8365 or persall@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 24, 2006, 11:49:19]